Corcoran public works bids ‘right on the numbers’

Council to decide on project alternates

Bids for the Corcoran Public Works facility came in right on budget, and the council must now decide whether to include project alternates.

The council also approved a city administrator job description, and heard that an environmental review must be done prior to construction of the Maple Hill activity center.

PUBLIC WORKS

Bids have been received for the new public works facility at County Rds. 19 and 10.

“The base bids overall came in right on the numbers, with a cost of $3,770,791,” city administrator Dan Donahue wrote in his memo to the council.

Donahue noted that an additional $360,782 is bid for the alternates, such as for cold storage, a 24-foot addition to the garage, an overhead crane and painted garage interior.

“If the city were to approve all of the alternates, an additional funding of around $300,000 would need to be sought,” Donahue said.

The administrator said the garage addition will have to be done someday, and the issue for the city is whether to do it now and save thousands of dollars in future costs.

Councilors Rich Asleson, Tom Cossette, Diane Lynch and Ron Thomas opted to include the garage alternate. With Mayor Ken Guenthner on vacation, Donahue said the full council would reconsider the alternate bids and could even rescind the garage alternate at its April 11 meeting.

The total project was budgeted at $3,850,000. Donahue said a decision on the alternates affects the project schedule, because concrete and steel takes six to eight weeks of lead time.

Ground-breaking is set to occur in early May, as soon as the road restriction limits are off. The project construction would occur in summer, with late November occupancy.

ADMINISTRATOR

In further matters, administrator Donahue said consultant Richard Fursman is finishing up a profile for the city administrator job.

Donahue is retiring following a long career in public administration. He said the job profile includes a little about the city, parks and recreation, and history, and details plans for the city’s future, upcoming growth, priorities for the next year, and a description of the job itself.

“The job description talks about the management capabilities that the city is looking for,” Donahue said. “What kind of skills/management ability and desired experiences.”

He said the position salary range is between $90,000 to $100,000. The council approved the job description, and applications will be received through April 29. Fursman will review all the applications and whittle it down to a certain number. Then around the end of May the council will interview the finalists.

“Hopefully we’ll settle on a candidate, work out a deal and make an offer.”

ACTIVITY CENTER

In other news, the council discussed the Maple Hills Activity Center construction project requests for proposals.

The project received grant funding, and the city will own the facility and remain owner for at least 15 years, per grant approval.

City administrator Donahue said Hennepin County “threw us a curve,” in describing the need to do an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW).

“Nobody ever said we had to do (an EAW),” Donahue said. “It’s not an expensive prospective but it will take up to 8 weeks.”

The city can’t send bids or requests for proposals until the EAW is complete. The item was for discussion only, as no formal action was required at this time.

In other action, the council:

APPROVED an updated camera security system at the city hall and police building. The updated system will be available on the city’s computer network. An interior camera will be added to the front lobby, as well as additional cameras in the front and back of the building.

APPOINTED Eric Menth to the open public works full-time position.

AUTHORIZED up to $12,000 for a seasonal office worker in summer to help organize city records. It is included within the existing budget.

AGREED to renew the contract with Metro West building inspection services, effective July 1. Staff said it is very satisfied with Metro West’s performance and that the company did not alter its cost to the city.